Elastic tire and rim for wheels.



No. 627,838. Patented June 27, I899.

w. F. WILLIAMS.

ELASTIC TIRE AND RIM FOR WHEELS.

(Application filed Jan. 6, 1899.)

3 Sheets8heet I.

(No Model.)

Wgw' Y @Z No. 627,838. Patented-lune 27, I899.

W, F. WILLIAMS.

ELASTIC TIRE AND RIM FOB WHEELS.

(Appliction filedlamfl, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 627,838. Patented June 27, I899. W. F. WILLIAMS.

ELASTIC TIRE AND RIM FOB WHEELS.

(Applicat ion filed Jan. 6, 1899.) (No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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NITED STATES I \VILLIAM FREDERICK. WILLIAMS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

ELASTIC TIRE AND RIM FOR WHEELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,838, dated June 27,1899.

. Application filed-January 6, 1899.

Serial No. 701,367. (No model.)

in Elastic Tires and Rims for Wheels, (for' which an application forpatent has been filed in Great Britain, dated June '10, 1898, No.13,038,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in elastic tires for the wheels ofvehicles and to the means of securing a firm connection of such anelastic tire to the wheel-rim under all circumstances incidental tostreet traffic.

The improvement in the construction of the elastic tire is mainlydesigned to insure greater security of attachment to the rim and tofacilitate the manufacture of the tire and increase its durability byenabling the cover or tread of the tire alone to be renewed when worn.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming partof this speci- Figs. t and 5 show half-sections, of elastic tires formedwith helical springs and differing only in respect of certain details ofthe means of securing the tire to the wheel-rim. Fig. 2 shows thesectional form to which the liner is rolled in the first instance beforebeing introduced between theinwardly-inclinedflanges of the wheel-rimshown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 shows a cross-section of the tire-coverseparately. Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 show details of the construction ofthe inner or spring portion of the tire, Fig. 7 being a part perspectiveview of a short length of suchinner port-ion in the fiat, with partsbroken away to illustrate the formation, Fig. 8 a cross-section, andFig. 9 a longitudinal section, of the same, and Fig. 10 a plan or faceView of a short length of the internal spring. Fig. 11 shows across-section of an elastic tire formed with flat springs, and Fig. 12shows a perspective view of a few of the springs before being bent tothe arched form.

The elastic tire consists of an outer cover or jacket A, which may bemainly of rubber, and of an inclosed inner portion composed of springsB, united by being covered with rubber C, so as to form a continuousstrip, these two main parts (A and 0) being entirely separate from eachother and their construction and mode of attachment to the wheel-rimbeing as follows:

As shown in Figs. 1 to 10, the springs B are of helical form and aresituated close together side by side in the transverse direction of thetire. The springs may beformed of one continuous length of wire by beingcoiled in successive helices all coiled in the same direction or in theform of right and left handed helices alternately, as represented at Z)Z) 5 N, &c., in Figs. 7 and 10, the ends of adjacent coils beingconnected in pairs alternately at opposite ends of the springs byconnecting members D of wire-that is to say, the springs b b areconnected at the one end, while the other end of spring I) is connectedto the adjacent end of b by a similar member, and the opposite end of bis similarly connected to 12 and so on, for any number or the wholeseries of springs composing the tire. The springs being thus connectednot only serve to mutually assist tosupport each other in position, butthe U-shaped recurved connecting members of wire D, 850., serve thepurpose of effecting an interlocking engagement of the springs with theWheel-rim, as hereinafter described.

The springs thus continuously connected of direction of coiling) andthen bending the series of alternately opposite handed coils to and frozigzag fashion, so as to bring the coils parallel to each other side byside, with the U-shaped connecting members of wire D in the positionshown in Figs. 7 and 10. The springs thus formed are placed in a moldand enveloped in rubber C or equivalent material, so as to formtherewith a transverselyflexible strip having the springs embeddedtransversely in the rubber, which fills up the spaces between thesprings, so as to form continuously flat top and bottom surfaces, theedges of the strip being at right angles to said surfaces and flush withthe ends of the helical springs, the connecting members D alone projecting from the edges of the strip.

each tubular sheath would conveniently inclose two adjacent springs, asshown in Figs. 7 and 9.

In order to prevent the rubber from being cut or injured in consequenceof being forced between the convolutions of the spring by the pressuredue to the weight of the load on the wheel, the middle portions at leastof the springs are filled by flexible cores F, formed, preferably, ofshort lengths of plaited or other cord, so as without impeding theflexibility of the springs to afiord the internal support necessary toprevent thesqueezing of the rubber between the coils. I

The U shaped connecting members I) where they emerge from the edges ofthe embedding rubber strip are bent hookwise, as shown, those at the oneedge and those at the other edge being all directed toward the same faceof the strip, so that when the latter is bent to a transversely-archedform, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and is placed within the groove of thewheel-rim the hook-like U -shaped connecting members D will be outwardlydirect ed and in position to engage with inturned flanges G, formed,fixed, or otherwise provided within the grooved wheel-rim H and withwhich the U-shaped hooks D are held in interlocking engagement by thetendency of the tire to expand laterally and resume its original flatform. I do not, however, limit myself to helical springs formed in onecontinuous length of wire, as separate springs may be usedthat is tosay, the portion of the U-shaped connecting member comprised between theletters w as in Figs. 7 and 10 may be dispensed with, leaving only thehook-like ends of the springs, and the latter may therefore be coiledall in the same direction, as will be readily understood, the separatehooklike ends engaging with the flanges of the wheel-rim in the same wayas do the complete U-shaped connecting members above described. may beenveloped in a tubular sheath E and be filled with a core F and thewholev embedded in rubber to form a strip as before from the edges ofwhich the hook-like ends of the spring project as before;

Instead of the springs B being of helical form, as above described, theymay be formed of flat strips B, as shown in Fig. 12, having their endsreversely bent, as shown at d (1 so as to form hooked ends D, adapted toabut against and to engage with the flanges G of the wheel-rim inprecisely the same way as above mentioned in respect of the U-shaped Inthis case each separate spring members connecting the spiral springsbefore described. These plate-springs would be connected by a strip ofcanvas M, (preferably on the bias,) secured to the springs byattachments, such as rivets m, the ends of the strip being united'toform a complete annulus, the face of the canvas being afterward coatedwith rubber G. The annular strip thus formed is bent to atransversely-arched form and is applied, together with an outer cover A,to the wheel-rim provided with internallyprojecting flanges G, withwhich the ends D of the springs engage, as shown in Fig. 11, and betweenwhich flanges G and the parts from d to d of the bent ends D of thesprings the flanges a of the cover A are clamped, as described inrespect of the spiral-spring construetion.

The cover A is of rubber or equivalent material molded of arched form incross-section, thick at the middle of its width, which forms the treador wearing surface, and thinned off toward the side edges. In order thatthe rubber at thethick tread or wearing portion shall not be stretched,but shall be in a state of compression, and consequently morewear-resisting when the cover is applied upon the wheel over thespring-s11 pporting interior portion, the cover is molded, preferably,of an initially-contracted arched form in the transverse direction, asindicated in Fig. 6, and in the circumferential direction to a curve ofconsiderably less radius than that of the whole tire on which it is tobe applied, so that it will require to be sprung open both laterally andcircumferentially in order to apply it,

and will not tend to spring off, but will cling onto the interiorsupporting-spring portion. For this purpose the cover is molded upon amandrel of relativelysmall section and of annular or spiral form, theradius of the annulus or the maximum radius of the spiral being, say,half that of the wheel. If molded of annular form, it would require tobe cut to form a length, and two such lengths would be joined up end toend by vulcanization to form one complete cover; but if of spiral formthe spiral might be of a sufficient number of convolutions to form therequired length, whose ends would be butt-jointed by vulcanization toform a complete cover.

To enable the cover to be securely attached, its edges are provided withinwardly-projecting flanges of metal a, made in short lengths andformed, preferably, by doubling and clamping a strip of sheet metallongitudinally upon itself and uponan intervening canvas strip ct,solutioned to the inner surface or embedded in the thickness of therubber, the edges of the canvas projecting beyond the edges of therubber, so as to be clamped by the metal strips or flanges aand formflexible hinges therefor. The cover A is adapted to embrace thespring-embedding strip 0, so that the flanges Ct engage with the edgesof said strip and when the tire is applied to the wheel become clampedbetween the edges of the spring-strip G and theinwardly-projectingflanges G of the wheel-rim, which form both anabutment for the spring-strip 0 against the pressure due to the weightof the load and a means of engagement by the hooks D for retaining thespring-stri p upon the wheelrim, the same means thus serving to securelyretain both the inner part and cover of the tire in position on thewheel. The free edge of each flange a is preferably bent at rightangles, as at a so as to be adapted to make a secure connection with theinwardly-directed flanges G of the wheel-rim, as indicated in Figs. 1,2, 3,- 4, 5, and 11.

The wheel-rim H-may either have the inwardly-projecting flanges G rolledor otherwise formed solid with it, as shown in' Fig. 1, or these may beformed separately, as hereinafter described with reference to Figs. 2,3, 4, and 5, the side cheeks h of the rim projecting to a sufficientdepth beyond the inwardlyprojecting flanges G to receive and confine thesides of the tire between them, as shown, and by preventing lateralexpansion of the tire under compression due to the weight of the loadrelieve the hooks D of the lateral thrust, so that their only duty willbe to maintain such an interlocking engagement of the tire with thewheel-rim as will avoid all liability of the tire springing off.

The mode of applying the tire to the wheelrim is'the same in all cases.The annular cover A is applied upon the internal springstrip 0, with itsflanges Ct tucked inward within the curve of the hooks D, so as toembrace the edges of the part 0, and then' the tire is compressed bysuitable clamping devices so as to bring it to a contracted arch form,with its side edges close together, so as to admit of the hooks D beinginserted, first those at one side and then those at the other side,beneath the corresponding flanges G, so as to make a secure interlockingengagement therewith, when the tire is allowed to spring outwardlaterally into the position shown.

In Fig. 2 the rim H is of the ordinary form as now used for solid-rubbertires-that is to say, with inwardly-inclined side cheeks h and thelocking-flanges G are formed by the inwardly-turned edges of aliner-strip T,which is rolled of the cross-sectional form shown in Fig.2, so as to be contracted in width sufficien'tly to admit of passing itbetween the side cheeks h, and is brought to the flattened form afterbeing so inserted, so as to fit tight-1y in thechannel of the rim, towhich the ends of this liner-strip are secured by screws, or the endsmay be united by a joint-covering piece and rivets or otherwise.

In Fig. 3the rim His rolled of right-angled section, the locking-flangesG and side cheeks h,.which retain the elastic tire, being formed by theliner-strip J, rolled of the folded crosssectional form shown and fittedin the groove of the rim H, the ends of the liner-strip beingbutt-jointed and screwed or otherwise united to the rim H.

- The'modification shown in half-section in Fig. 4 differs only fromFig. 3 in that the liner K is rolled with a solid flange G like that ofthe rim in Fig. 1 instead of being folded, as in Fig. 3, while themodification shownin the other half-section, Fig. 5, differs only fromFig. 2 in that the side checks of the wheel-rim H are not inclinedinward, and therefore the liner L can be at once rolledas a band of flatcross-section with inwardlycurved flanges G and be laid directly in therim H and be secured thereto by screws at its butt-jointed ends and atsuitable intervals around its circumference.

I claim- 1. The combination with a wheel-rim of channeled section havingflanges inwardly projecting from the side cheeks of the rim at a pointintermediate of the bottom of the channel and the edges of the cheeks,of an elastic-tire support formed of a connected series of juxtaposedtransversely-extending springs of normally straight form with U- shapedhooked ends said springs being adapted to be curved to an arched form inthe transverse direction of the tire and when so bent tending to forcethe U shaped ends outward into engagement with the said inwardlyprojecting flanges of the rim whereby the springs are retained inthe arched form and in engagement with the wheel-rim, as described.

2. The combination-with a wheel-rim of channeled section having flangesinwardly projecting from the side checks of the rim at apointintermediate of the bottom of the channel and the edges of the cheeks,of an elastic tire formed of an endless outer cover oftransversely-arched section, provided with inwardly-projecting rigidflanges in short lengths and inclosing a connected series of juxtaposedtransverselyextending springs, bent to an arched form and provided withhooked ends which engage with the said inwardly-projecting flange of therim, the sides of the cover being held between the checks of the rim andthe inwardly-directed flanges of the cover clamped by the springsagainst the inwardly-projecting flanges of the rim, substantially asspecified.

3. The combination with a wheel-rim of channeled section having flangesinwardly projecting from the side checks of the rim at a pointintermediate of the bottom of'the channel and the edges of the checks,of an elastic tire formed of an endless strip of rubber having embeddedtherein juxtaposed transversely-extending helical springs, formed ofcontinuous wire united two by two alternately at opposite ends byrecurved or hook-shaped connecting members which alone project from theedges of the strip in which the coils are embedded, the strip whenapplied to the rim being bent to a transversely-arched'form, and thesaid hook-like parts being engaged with the said inwardly-projectin gflanges of the rim and being retained in such engagement by thelaterally-expanding tendency of the sti'i p, substant-ially asspecified.

4. The combination with a wheel-rim of channeled section inclosingflanges inwardly projecting from the side cheeks of the rim at a pointintermediate of the bottom of the channel and the edges of the cheeks,of a spring-embedding strip, an elastic-tire support, and of an endlessouter cover of rubber of arched cross-section, provided withinwardlyprojecting rigid flanges in short lengths adaptedto embrace theedges of the spring-embedding strip, and to be gripped between the edgesof the strip and the inwardly-projecting flanges of the rim when thestrip is bent to a transversely-arched form and its hook-like lateralextensions are engaged with the said flanges as described, the coverfitting between the side cheeks of the rim which project beyond theinwardlyprojectiug flanges, whereby the flanges of the cover areretained in position and the tire retained in the arched form, asdescribed.

5. In an elastic tire for vehicle-wheels, the combination, with springsformed of contin uous wire coiled in helices connected two by twoalternately at opposite sides by recurved or hook-shaped cross members,the juxtaposed springs being embedded in a rubber strip in which theyextend transversely, of cores of plaited rope filling the middleportions of the springs, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In an elastic tire for vehicle-wheels, the combination, with springsformed of continuous wire coiled in helices connected two by of a rubberstrip in which the springs thus enveloped are embedded, as described.

7. In a vehicle-wheel having a rim of channeled sect-ion, thecombination of a liner having inwardly-recurved flanges, said linerbeing fixed within the channel of the rim as described, and of anelastic tire formed of a strip of rubber having embedded thereinjuxtaposed transverselyextending helical springs, connected as describedby recurved or hook-like members which project from the edges of thestrip, and of an endless cover therefor provided withinwardly-projecting flanges at its edges, the tire when applied to theWheel being bent of transversely-arched form and the recurved orhook-like members being engaged with the inwardly-projecting flanges ofthe liner, the flanges of the cover being gripped between the saidflanges of the liner and the edges of the spring-embedding strip and thecover being confined between the side cheeks of the rim, substantiallyas specified.

Signed by me, WILLIAM FREDERICK WIL- LIAMS, this 22d day of December,1898.

WILLIAM FRE DERICK \VlLhIA MS.

In presence of- O. G. CLARK, T. W. KENNARD.

